Jacoby Ford to be household name

Whenever there is football again, new Raiders coach Hue Jackson said Wednesday that receiver/kick returner Jacoby Ford will be an even bigger part of the offense. Ford had 148 yards and return touchdown against the Chiefs in Week 9, and 108 yards, a receiving touchdown and a return touchdown against the Dolphins in Week 11, and Jackson said he intends to give Ford the ball more in 2011.

“You better believe I do,” Jackson told the NFL Network. “Obviously, Jacoby is going to become a household name, because he has some very special ability. He’s very good with the ball in his hands — he’s very good without the ball in his hands — because he draws a lot of attention.

“He’s just scratching the surface of what he truly can be.”

(Been filling in at the Niners a little, so here’s some Raiders notes from earlier this week:)

Barksdale doesn’t need money:

Rookie tackle Joe Barksdale said he’s not bothered by the lockout, and that his agent takes care of his few financial needs.

“I don’t spend a lot of money,” Barksdale told the Detriot News. “I never had a lot of money. Maybe five dollars in my pocket and that’s it. You give someone who never had candy before some fat-free twizzlers and they’re good.

“I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I need money for gas to see my girlfriend (in East Lansing). My hobbies are simple. I have an IPOD, a MacBook. The MacBook is starting to run my life. And I listen to music and play video games.”

With the future of Raiders tackles Langston Walker, Mario Henderson and Khalif Barnes up in the air and the lack of a free-agency period so far, Barksdale seems to be in prime position to earn a starting job on the right side. And that’s the plan, even if he’s lost out on workouts and possibly a full-length training camp due to the lockout.

“I expect to start right away,” Barksdale said. “My goal is to play 12 years. I want to play forever.”

Like a chess player, Barksdale has long tried to be a couple of moves ahead before he acts or opens his mouth. He chose LSU over Ohio State because he researched which school made more offensive linemen make it to the NFL. Barksdale started three seasons for the Tigers, two at right tackle before moving to the left side his senior year. He was named second team All-Southeastern Conference and helped LSU win the Cotton Bowl.

“I do love football,” Barksdale said. “I know it will be hard when it’s over. When I’m done, I’ll coach and take that money they give me to coach to charity. If you play 12 years, you won’t need more money. I won’t want to work a normal job when I’m done. No 9-to-5 for me. I’m going to ride this train until the tracks run out.”

Alex Smith to Raiders?:

(This is from my NFL column Saturday about the lockout – the story was kept off the site for three days as we do try and charge money for some content.)

Oakland was apparently interested in Alex Smith – “I did hear that a little bit,” the quarterback said – and while the Raiders would deny that, it does raise the question: Just how convinced is owner Al Davis that Jason Campbell is the long-term answer at quarterback?

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King spent time in the 49ers’ war room during the draft and reported that general manager Trent Baalke was convinced the Raiders were trying to trade up, move ahead of the Niners and draft quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round.

Campbell is in the last year of his contract and probably can sense that if 8-8 wasn’t good enough for coach Tom Cable to keep his job last season, it won’t be good enough for Campbell this season.